reviews

2018 Infiniti QX30 Review

July 30, 2018

This or the Mercedes GLA, or yet something else?

By Shahzad Sheikh

Click below now to watch my 2018 Infiniti QX30 Review

The Infiniti QX30 is an upmarket crossover/SUV and rivals the likes of the BMW X1, Audi Q3 and the Mercedes GLA – now that last one is significant, because underneath the Infiniti’s swoopy skin, it’s pretty much the same car.

There’s a rebadging relationship here that started with the Infiniti Q30 – and I urge you to check out the review of that car by clicking here or watching below.

Coming back to the QX30, it’s 30mm higher than the Q30, or 40mm if you raise it, which you can. But it has the same 2.0 Turbo putting out 208bhp and 258lb ft or torque, giving it a 0-100kph time of 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 230kph.

This it achieves via a 7-speed auto and Infiniti’s Intelligent All-wheel-drive – mostly front wheel drive (80%) most of time, until you need the rear traction to kick in and help out in poor grip.

Make no mistake though, this is not an off-roader, it’s a good gravel-track car though, and will give you added reassurance should you have to go off the tarmac to find parking etc.

To drive, it feels a lot like the Q30, except slightly less sporty from being higher up. But otherwise it rides and handles well and everything is logical and easy to use.

It is in fact a very good car. Interesting looks, decent to drive, perfectly practical, solid quality and with a little extra ground clearance and a touch of off-tarmac ability. It starts from AED150,000 ($45k) plus VAT and goes up to AED167,000 ($49k) plus VAT. The Mercedes GLA is AED180,000.

So no brainer then? Go for the Infiniti, right? Well actually just save a bit more and get the Q30. You’ll get a top-of-the-range one of those, for less than the entry-level version of the QX. Now THAT’S a no-brainer.